Serum interleukin-12 and interleukin-18 levels in patients with oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

UNLABELLED: Interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) play an important role as immunomodulatory factors in cancer pathogenesis. THE AIM of the study was analyze changes of serum IL-12 and IL-18 concentrations in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients depending on the progression of cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood samples were taken from 41 patients with oesophageal cancer: 5 women and 36 men, mean age 59+/-9 years. 23 patients had surgical resection of oesophagus with II and III tumor stage, 18 patients with IV stage of cancer progression were treated by palliative procedures. The control group included 15 healthy blood donors: 4 female and 11 males, mean age 41+/-6 years. The concentrations of IL-12 and IL-18 were determined by ELISA tests. RESULTS: Serum IL-12 and IL-18 amounts detected in blood of oesophageal cancer patients were significantly higher in comparison to control group (p<0.001). Serum IL-12 level was higher in patients with IV stage of the disease than in patients with II and III stages. Also serum IL-18 level was significantly higher in patients with IV stage in comparison to patients surgically treated (p<0.05). Statistically significant differences were found in concentrations of IL-18 according to clinicopathological parameters such as: stage of cancer progression, tumor depth, lymph node metastasis (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Serum IL-12 and IL-18 levels are significantly higher in oesophageal cancer patients than in the healthy subjects. A relation between IL-18 content and cancer progression has been registered.

[Comparative evaluation of postoperative complication in the reconstructive surgery of the esophagus]. / Porównawcza ocena wczesnych powiklan pooperacyjnych po zabiegach wytwórczych przelyku.

The paper presents 78 patients with stenosis of the middle thoracic segment of the esophagus. The substitute, being pedunculated intestinal graft, was brought to the neck through the retrosternal space. Early post-operative complications occurred in 8.9% of patients. Post-operative mortality rate was 7.6%. The most dangerous complication after esophageal plastic surgery is blood supply insufficiency. It was observed in 2 cases. Other complications included anastomotic leaks and respiratory distress syndrome. The authors emphasize that frequency of post-operative complications and mortality are related with the patient general condition and extent of the surgery.

[Postop complication of pancreatic resection]. / Powiklania po czesciowych resekcjach trzustki.

Early complications after partial pancreatic resections and benign pancreatic tumours were analysed. 276 patients with pancreatic tumours were treated in the years 1979-1997. In 77 cases radical operation was performed. 65 patients underwent Whipple and 12--Traverso-Longmire pancreatoduodenectomy. Malignant tumour was found in 55 cases and 22 were benign. In 4 patients tumour's resection along with invaded portal vessels and portal confluence reconstruction was performed. These were the first cases with vessels resection operated in Poland. There were 2 post-operative deaths observed in that group. Complications in our material were as follows: pancreatico-jejunal anastomosis fistulae, haemorrhage from ulcers in gastro-jejunal anastomosis, diffuse peritonitis, haemorrhage from pancreatic stump vessels, ileus, acute renal insufficiency, pneumonia and myocardial infarct. Mortality in whole group was 11%. In the last 5 years due to our growing experience and some technical modifications mortality fell to 4.4%.

[Intraoperative portography in operations for resection of pancreas neoplasms]. / Portografia sródoperacyjna w operacjach resekcyjnych guzów trzustki.

Since 1993 during pancreatic resection routine intraoperative portography has been employed. Thus we are able to establish infiltration engaging portal vein and its branches. Facilitating decision making about resectability of the tumor. 29 portographies were performed. In eight cases malignant infiltration on portal vein was established. Because of that in seven cases no radical resection was undertaken.

[Tumor in Vater's ampulla--local excision or Whipple's resection]. / Rak brodawki Vatera--miejscowe wyciecie czy operacja Whipple'a.

Results of the operative treatment of Vater's papilla carcinoma in fifteen cases were analysed. Eleven patients had pancreatoduodenectomy according to Whipple, four had only local excision of Vater's papilla along with the tumour. All four had early recurrence and were re-operated by Whipple method. In our experience only radical pancreatoduodenectomy with regional lymphadenectomy, preferably Whipple type, gives chance of achieving the radical cure.

[Treatment of hemorrhoids]. / Leczenie zylaków odbytu.

In the years 1980-89, 156 patients were treated in the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, in whom the main disease were haemorrhoids. Surgical treatment was given to 101 patients (64.74%), and 55 patients were treated conservatively (35.26%). In the group of patients treated surgically, the Whitehead method was used in 58.42% of cases, the Milligan method in 35.64% of patients, and in the remaining 5.94% the operation was carried out by other methods. Among the patients operated on, cure was achieved in 97 cases (96.04%), four patients (3.96%) required further treatment due to local complications (3-after operation by the Whitehead method, 1-by the Milligan method). More postoperative complications were seen in patients treated by the Whitehead method (5.08%) than by the Milligan method (2.78%), but for operation by the Whitehead method, patients were qualified with advanced, often complicated haemorrhoids, and all patients with accompanying anal prolapse.